Breaker attachment



E. C. GRYCE BREAKER ATTACHMENT May 25, 1954 Filed Oct. o. 1951 2 Sheet-s-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EDWN C. GRYCE ATTORNEY May 25, 1954 Filed Oct. 10, 1951 E. C. GRYCE BREAKER ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EDWIN C- GRYCE BY@ %M ATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED sTArss ermi* OFFICE 3 Claims.

My present invention relates to a novel breaker attachment for an equipment such' as a drag line, a grapple and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel breaker means for embodiment in an equipment and having a predetermined tensile strength, Whereby the breaker means will break apart by a stress greater than the tensile strength of the breaker means being applied to the same, and thus prevent damage or breakage to the equipment, A further object of this invention is to provide a novel breakermeans .for embodiment in an equipment and having a predetermined tensile strength, whereby the breaker means will break apart by a stress greater than the tensile strength of the breaker means and give the operator a pre-warning of over-strain in the equipment to shut down the power before breakage in the equipment takes place, thus eliminating flying ends or parts of the equipment.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the drawings.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combination of' devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings: i

Fig. 1 is a plan view, with a portion of the cover broken away, showing one embodiment of the invention; V

Fig. 2 is a View corresponding to Fig. 1, with the exception that the cover is removed and some parts sectioned;

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are views in transverse vertical section taken on the lines 3-3, 4-6, 5-5, 6-6 and 1--1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing a different way of attaching the right-hand section of the cable to the housing;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational View of the parts -shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan View, With portions of the cover broken away, showinganother embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a View corresponding to-Fg. 10, with the exception that the cover and the compression 'caps are removed; and

Fi gsj 12 and 13 are views in transverse vertical section taken on the lines ll--H and I2-l2 of Fig. 11, respectively. i

Referrng first to the invention shown in Figs. 1

to '7, inclusive, the device is shown connecting two aiigned sections ili and !5 of a cable h?, as shown, a wire rope. This embodiment of the invention includes a closed housing ll, in the form of a rectangular, elongatecl box 18, and a cover !9 thereior in the form of a fiat plate, detachably Secured to said box by a plurality of cap screws 243. The right-hand end member 88 of the box i& is reiativeiy thick and the left-hand end member ii thereof has on its outer side a boss l8.

The cable section 15 is attached to the righthand end member 18 of the box !8 by a butt or socket attachment. A deep, narrow chamel is formed in the end member !8 and extends transversely of the box !8. The attachment of the cable section [5 to the box IS includes an inwardly fiaring annular or truncated conicai socket 22. This socket 22 extends into the end member %t from the center of its outside to the channel 2 i. In the wall of the end member it surrounding the socket 22, is an annular groove 23. The inner end portion of the cable section !5 is inserted into the socket 22, the Wires thereof in said socket spread apart and molten Zinc poured into the socket 22, from the channel !9, to fill said socket and the groove 23 and the interstices between the spread wires of the cable section 15.

A slidable assembly i in the box !8 includes an outer slide member 25 and an inner slide member 26, each being in the form of an upright rectangular block that has a loose working fit with the interier of the box !8 and its cover !9.

'The assembly E i is in the right end portion of the box sa and its member 25 is between the slide member 26 and the end member ls The two slide members 25 and 26 are connected by a pair of laterally spacecl bolts 2'6 that extend loosely through holes in the slide member 25, have screw-threaded engagement with the slide member 25 and the heads 28 of said bolts are countersunk in the outer face of the slide member 25.

The inner end portion of the cable section 14 extends into the box ES through a hole 29 in the center of the boss !8 and the end member la This hole 29 fiares outwardly to lessen the wear between the end member 13', the boss l 8 and. the cable section M. The cable section M is attached to the slide member 25 in the same manner that the cable section i 5 is attached to the end member !t and the fiaring socket and the annular groove of the present connection are designated by the numerals 3= and 3l, respectively.

The slidable assembly 24 is attached to the box [8 by a breaker member 32 at the longitudinal center of the housing l'. This breaker member 32 is elongated, round in cross-section and its end portions 33 are thickened by increasing the diameter thereof. On each end of the breaker member 32 is a large head 34. The breaher member may be made of any suitable material. A compression cap 35 is mounted in a recess 35, in the upper portion of the end member !8 between the channel Zi and. the adjacent side ofsaid end member, and is removably secured to the end member :s by a pair of cap screws 3?. formed in the end member !8 at the bottom of the recess and the under side of the compression cap 35. A second compression cap 33 is mounted in a recess 49 in the upper portion of the slide member 26 and' detachably* Secured to said slide member by a pair of cap screws ii. A pair of opposing hal-seats 42 is formed in the slide member 2%, at the bottom of the recess and the under side of the compression cap 39. Each compression cap 35--39 is in the form of a horizontal bar that extends transversely of the box !8.

As herebefore stated, the, breaker member 32 connects the slidable assembly 2:3 to the housing !i and this is accomplished by mounting the end portions 33 of said member in the pairs of half-seats 38-42 with one of the heads of the breaker member 32 impinging the box end member :s and the compression cap 35, at channel 2 i, as a base of resistance and the other head E& impinging the inner side of the slide member 26 and the compression cap se, as a base of resistance Obvious1y, the compression caps 35-39 hold the end portions 33 of the breaker member 32 clamped in the half-seats 3S- l2. This mountingof the breaker member 32 leaves its intermediate portion between the end member lil and the assembly M. This intermediate portion of the breaker member 32, which is of reduced diameter, has a tensile strength less than that of eithercable section i i- 45.

It wi11 be understood that the brealer member 33 'may take various 'different forms; for instance, it may be attached in the same manner as that shown in Fig s. to 13, inclusive. In this case, stronger cap screws would be necessary to hold the compression Caps.

A cushion or Shock absorber 43 in the box iS is provided' for the slidable assembly 2 in case it' gave way due to a pulling strain that greater than its tensile strength. This Shock absorber 43, as shown, is a rectangular upright block of rubber placed against the end member la as a base of resistance.

If the breaker member 32 gives way, the released assembly 24 will snapi over against the Shock absorber 43 and give the operator a prewarning of overstrain on the cable t? so that he can shut down the power and replace the breaker member 32.' In this embodiment of the invention, there would not be any flying ends of the cable I@ when the breaker member 32 gives way, provided the operator would shut o the power before further breakage takes place.

Obviously, the, "pre-Shock" in the equipment produced 'by the release assembly 24 is ample warning to the operator that there is an over- 'strain on the equipment. While the breaker member 32 shown connects two sections of a cable, it will be understood that the same may be used'` to connect two members subject to a pulling strain. In other words, the brea'xer 'member 32' is intended for general use for the A pair of opposing halfseats 38 are 4 purpose intended in connecting two members, but it is especially well adapted for use in connection with a drag line.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown a different way of attaching a cable to the box. In this instance, the box !3' has on its right-hand end an integral ring 44 and a thimble 45 interlocked therewith. The inner end portion of the cable section i is inserted through the ring 44, folded upon itself around the thimble %and the end portion thereof secured to the main portion of the cable section [5' by a Wrapping of wire 46.

Referring now in detail to the invention shown in Figs. 10` to 13, inclusive, the numeral 42' indicates a housing comprising a rectangular elongated box 48 and a cover 49 therefor. The cover twisa flatplatesecured by cap screws 56 to the box il.` The right-hand end of the box 43 is open and the left-handend thereof is closed and integral therewth is a ring 5 I. A slidable' member 52 is heldin the box 48 for sliding movement therefrom through the open end thereof, when released; as' willpresently appear.. This slidable member 52, as shown, is a flat plate that rests on the bottom of the box 48 and has side fianges 53, the upper edges of 'which clear the under side of the cover 19. The front end of the slidable member 52, between the fianges 53, is closed as indicatedat 54, and integral therewith is a ring 55 that projects outwardly of the box 48.

A base member 55 in the left-hand end portion oi the, box iii' is integral therewith and a similar base member 57 in the right-hand end portion of the slidable. member 52 is integral therewith. A compression cap ,52 is Secured to the base member 56 by a pair of cap screws 59; and a like cap Sii is Secured to the base member 5? by a pair of Gap screws 61; The compression caps 58-55 are each in the form of a bar that extends transversel'y of the box t' over the respective base members Sii- 57. A pair of opposing half-seats S2` are formed in the upper side of each base member Sii- Si and the under side of the respective compression Caps 58-68: The half-seats 62. of each pair are in the form of a truncated cone and are outwardly.

A breaker -member 53 connectsthe box ne" and the slid'able member 521 ancl is made offany suitable material, preferably non-corrosive. This breaker member 63.' is relatively long, round in cross-section, as shown, andthe end portions thereof are in the form of. truncated cones :sa that fit in the half-seats 62.

A, fragment of athimble is interlockedtwith each ring Sii-55. and aragment of a section of a cable 66, as shown, a wire rope, is -applied to each thimble 85. The breaker member 63 has a tensile strengthlessthan thSuSBCtOlS of the cable 66. When overstrainoccurs on the cable GS and thebreaker menbers is torn apart, the box 18" and the, slidable member 52. are at thesame time pulled apart, making acomplete separation of the two sections of the .cable 66.

The arrangement in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, is for partial -or interrupted break, whichis contrived to -give the ,operator warning- `to hold up further strain when danger from-breakagewould need to be avoided The arrangement shownlin Fig. 10 to Fig. 13, inclusive, is for full breaking apart of the two 'cable sections orother members, to be used in suchcases where the release of a load cannot be prevented and in such cases'whenoverload and .breakage :doesb not..-cause-1 dangen fer;` instance.

when a grappling hook could not be released from its hold. In such a case, the breaking member would be designed to be within the strength of the rigging and would let go. This structure is especially well adapted for use in connection with the drawbar pull of a tractor, which, if exc-essive, could and does upset the tractor with considerable loss of life.

While there are herein disclosed but a limited number of embodiments of the structure, process and product of the invention herein presented, it is possible to' produce still other embodiments Without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as are stated herein, or required by the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. In a tackle to which a p ulling strain may be applied, and b i'eaker means holding the tackleto normally shorten its operative length without separatng the same, said breaker means having a tensile strength less than that of the tackle, whereby the breake' means will pull ap art When undue strain is applied to the tackle and permit the tac'sie to assume its greatest length by the pulling strain and thus produce a shock as a warning that the tackle is under undue strain.

2. A tackle to which a pulling strain may be applied, two interlocked members having a limited relative longtudinal movement a cable attached to: one of the members, means for attaching a load to the other member for holding the same, and breaker means holding the members retracted to Shorten the operative length of the coupling, said breaker means having less tensiie strength than the tackle whereby the breaker means will pul apart when undue pulling strain is appl'ed to the tackle and permit the pulling strain to pull the members into greatest length of the coupling and thus produce a Shock as` a warning that the tackle is under undue strain.

3. In a tackle to which a pulling strain may be applied, a coupling including a box-like body, a sliding assembly in one end position of said. body comprisng an inner block-like member and a ,lmilar outer member, means connecting said a cahle extending into the opposite end of the body from the assembly through an aperture, and attached to the inner member, a breaker member connecting the cute-r members to the respective end of the body, means for attaching a load to the end of the body at the assembly, or for holding the same, said breaker means having less tensile strength than the tackle, whereby the breaker means will prill apart when undue pulling strain is applied to the tackle and permit the pulling strain to pul the assembly to the opposite end of the body and thus produce a Shock as a warning that the tackle is under undue strain.

References cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,431,192 Stecher Oct. 10, 1922 1,492/194 Trout Apr. 29, 1924 1,595,951 Kloniecki Aug. 10, 1926 2241412 Blattner May 20, 1941 25114161 Moore Jan. 14, 1947 

